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What on Earth Am I Here For?
This is a book by Rick Warren about our purpose on earth. He asks the
question, “What drives your life?”
The dictionary defines drive as “to guide, to control, or to direct.”
Sometimes a problem, a pressure or a deadline can drive you; or a
birthday, anniversary or even vacation plans. Painful memories, fears
and beliefs drive people. There are literally hundreds of circumstances,
values, and emotions that can drive your life. Warren gives five driving
forces:
1. Guilt
2. Resentment
3. Materialism
4. Fear
5. The Need For Approval
I’d like to tell you about my top driving force. It is the belief that Jesus is
The Christ or Anointed Son of God. An experience with The Holy Spirit, in
1975 on Mother’s Day at our church caused me to know that heaven was
‘dealing’ with my heart. I remember the experience vividly. The church
was packed. The singing groups present were ‘singing the glory down’
and the mood within the church was one of celebration and joy. Ishmael
and Eileen Horsley were singing What a Beautiful Day for The Lord to
Come Again.
The song caused me to think about the time when Jesus returned to
earth to get His church. I knew He would not be coming for me. I was an
unrepentant sinner. Oh, you’d have thought me moral, decent, a good
wife and mother; but I had never asked Jesus to forgive my sins or my
omissions (for Maxine Kamer and Joanne Godfrey had taught me James 4:
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it
is sin.)
My eyes began searching the room for loses other than heaven, being
with Jesus, enjoying peace forever and all the other great things of
forever with Him. My eyes fell on Mom’s head and the bun on the back of
her head. “She would go with and you’d be left behind,” Jesus said.
My eyes searched again and saw my Dad. “He would go with me and you'd
be left with Satan,” the voice inside me spoke. By now the hair was
standing up on my arms and chill bumps covering my body. My heart felt
like it would explode. All these years I knew the truth but this morning an
invitation was coming from heaven. The church seemed happy but I was
in the deepest valley of decision ever.
Then, my eyes caught a glimpse of my four year old son sitting on my
sister in-law’s lap. She was a Christian and John was a child. “They would
both go with me and you cannot, as you are now,” the voice inside
whispered. By now tears were streaming down my face. I turned to Roger
and asked him to go pray with me. He shook his head no and then
whispered to me, “The Lord is dealing with you Wilma. You need to go.”
All my life I had watched people go pray, get up and report they had
asked Jesus into their hearts. All would celebrate and I’d watch their
lives be changed. They would speak different. They would attend
services and one could hear their inner joy expressed as they
witnessed. You could watch as they began reading Bible and knowing
more of it. You’d see them take more and more responsibility in Christ’s
Kingdom. The transformation brought them peace and boldness in the
faith. I had always wanted that. They would sing, Pass Me Not and I’d
secretly pray, “Don’t pass me by and leave me, Jesus.”
Now, today, in this service The Holy Spirit and Jesus were outside my
heart, inviting me to do the work (repent, ask Them in, be baptized, give
my life the Jesus) and I was standing here trying hard NOT to go to Jesus.
This was crazy. All my life I wanted to be saved. Why was I fighting against
what I always wanted? The Devil was reasoning with my mind also.
Suddenly I knew the two forces of the universe: God and Satan were
each inviting me to their respective kingdoms.
Then, it happened, I wanted to be in Jesus’ Kingdom. My foot slid out
past Roger and into the aisle. Martha Kamer sensing my need was
headed toward me. I bowed at the altar (a place to offer Jesus myself). As
I began to pray the realization that my decision had been made when I
stepped out began to give me peace. I told Jesus I’d go with Him all the
way through my life. I gave Him my word to follow Him and His teachings.
The Holy Ghost came from heaven to my soul and gave me a peaceful,
loving inner peace. I was a Christian!
The church went into celebration mode-as did the angels in heaven as
Luke reports in 15:10. I was hugged and received handshakes and
encouragement. Mom waited until all had greeted me and I was coming
down the aisle to my seat. She stepped out and said to me, “Well, The
Lord did what I could never got done, He took the will out of Wil-ma and I’
m sure He can put His will in its place.”
That is just what Jesus did. He moved in me and gave me a purpose
driven life. He has worked on me continually for these thirty-two years
and made many, many improvements. Each time we talk He has others
suggestions for ways I can become more like Him. Our walk has been
pleasant. Our walk has been a sweet, sweet fellowship. Our walk has
grown sweeter each year. He and His work have become my driving force.
Thank you Jesus for Your Ministry, for becoming flesh and dwelling
among us, for Calvary and for Resurrection Day. Thanks for The
Comforter that You sent. Thanks for being The Son of God, The King of
Kings and yet my best friend. That is an awesome thing-that you’d want to
be Savior to someone like me. Happy Easter Jesus! Happy Easter
Readers. Blessings on having Him as your driving force.
This is a book by Rick Warren about our purpose on earth. He asks the
question, “What drives your life?”
The dictionary defines drive as “to guide, to control, or to direct.”
Sometimes a problem, a pressure or a deadline can drive you; or a
birthday, anniversary or even vacation plans. Painful memories, fears
and beliefs drive people. There are literally hundreds of circumstances,
values, and emotions that can drive your life. Warren gives five driving
forces:
1. Guilt
2. Resentment
3. Materialism
4. Fear
5. The Need For Approval
I’d like to tell you about my top driving force. It is the belief that Jesus is
The Christ or Anointed Son of God. An experience with The Holy Spirit, in
1975 on Mother’s Day at our church caused me to know that heaven was
‘dealing’ with my heart. I remember the experience vividly. The church
was packed. The singing groups present were ‘singing the glory down’
and the mood within the church was one of celebration and joy. Ishmael
and Eileen Horsley were singing What a Beautiful Day for The Lord to
Come Again.
The song caused me to think about the time when Jesus returned to
earth to get His church. I knew He would not be coming for me. I was an
unrepentant sinner. Oh, you’d have thought me moral, decent, a good
wife and mother; but I had never asked Jesus to forgive my sins or my
omissions (for Maxine Kamer and Joanne Godfrey had taught me James 4:
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it
is sin.)
My eyes began searching the room for loses other than heaven, being
with Jesus, enjoying peace forever and all the other great things of
forever with Him. My eyes fell on Mom’s head and the bun on the back of
her head. “She would go with and you’d be left behind,” Jesus said.
My eyes searched again and saw my Dad. “He would go with me and you'd
be left with Satan,” the voice inside me spoke. By now the hair was
standing up on my arms and chill bumps covering my body. My heart felt
like it would explode. All these years I knew the truth but this morning an
invitation was coming from heaven. The church seemed happy but I was
in the deepest valley of decision ever.
Then, my eyes caught a glimpse of my four year old son sitting on my
sister in-law’s lap. She was a Christian and John was a child. “They would
both go with me and you cannot, as you are now,” the voice inside
whispered. By now tears were streaming down my face. I turned to Roger
and asked him to go pray with me. He shook his head no and then
whispered to me, “The Lord is dealing with you Wilma. You need to go.”
All my life I had watched people go pray, get up and report they had
asked Jesus into their hearts. All would celebrate and I’d watch their
lives be changed. They would speak different. They would attend
services and one could hear their inner joy expressed as they
witnessed. You could watch as they began reading Bible and knowing
more of it. You’d see them take more and more responsibility in Christ’s
Kingdom. The transformation brought them peace and boldness in the
faith. I had always wanted that. They would sing, Pass Me Not and I’d
secretly pray, “Don’t pass me by and leave me, Jesus.”
Now, today, in this service The Holy Spirit and Jesus were outside my
heart, inviting me to do the work (repent, ask Them in, be baptized, give
my life the Jesus) and I was standing here trying hard NOT to go to Jesus.
This was crazy. All my life I wanted to be saved. Why was I fighting against
what I always wanted? The Devil was reasoning with my mind also.
Suddenly I knew the two forces of the universe: God and Satan were
each inviting me to their respective kingdoms.
Then, it happened, I wanted to be in Jesus’ Kingdom. My foot slid out
past Roger and into the aisle. Martha Kamer sensing my need was
headed toward me. I bowed at the altar (a place to offer Jesus myself). As
I began to pray the realization that my decision had been made when I
stepped out began to give me peace. I told Jesus I’d go with Him all the
way through my life. I gave Him my word to follow Him and His teachings.
The Holy Ghost came from heaven to my soul and gave me a peaceful,
loving inner peace. I was a Christian!
The church went into celebration mode-as did the angels in heaven as
Luke reports in 15:10. I was hugged and received handshakes and
encouragement. Mom waited until all had greeted me and I was coming
down the aisle to my seat. She stepped out and said to me, “Well, The
Lord did what I could never got done, He took the will out of Wil-ma and I’
m sure He can put His will in its place.”
That is just what Jesus did. He moved in me and gave me a purpose
driven life. He has worked on me continually for these thirty-two years
and made many, many improvements. Each time we talk He has others
suggestions for ways I can become more like Him. Our walk has been
pleasant. Our walk has been a sweet, sweet fellowship. Our walk has
grown sweeter each year. He and His work have become my driving force.
Thank you Jesus for Your Ministry, for becoming flesh and dwelling
among us, for Calvary and for Resurrection Day. Thanks for The
Comforter that You sent. Thanks for being The Son of God, The King of
Kings and yet my best friend. That is an awesome thing-that you’d want to
be Savior to someone like me. Happy Easter Jesus! Happy Easter
Readers. Blessings on having Him as your driving force.
